Welcome to another look at highlights arriving on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD. There are plenty of major releases appearing on disc, as well as notable independents and some exciting older features. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay indoors for a few days, be sure to give one of these titles a try!
BIG NEW RELEASES!
THE BIKERIDERS – This period drama is set in the 1960s is loosely based on true stories of the members of the Chicago-based Vandals Motorcycle Club. A photography student interviews various members of the group over a period of years and learns how the gang was formed, their aspirations as well as details about their members. It focuses on the relationship between one charismatic but fight-prone biker and his wife. Reaction was positive towards this feature. A small group of reviews complained that, to them, the movie didn’t make a clear statement about the gang or create enough memorable story moments. However, most thought the film effectively focused on characters, accurately depicting life in a motorcycle gang. They believed it also benefited from an amazing cast. This picture will be available as in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo set and as a standalone Blu-ray. It stars Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy and Michael Shannon.
BONEYARD – The 2009 West Mesa murders in New Mexico are the inspiration for this crime drama. After the bodies of 11 women and one unborn child are discovered, the FBI are called in to help investigate. They team with the local chief of police to find the responsible party. It eventually becomes clear that the psychopath (whom the press name “The Bone Collector”) may actually be a member of law enforcement. Critics weren’t overly impressed with this title. A little more than one-third of them stated that while this wasn’t a big budget effort, it was well-acted and presented the general facts of the case in a compelling manner. More thought the film was exploitative, lacked tension and didn’t deliver a satisfying finale. The cast includes Brian Van Holt, Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson, Mel Gibson, Nora Zehetner and Michael Sirow.
COCAINE WEREWOLF – With a title like this, you can have no doubts about the tone of this picture. It’s a low-budget independent horror/comedy from Mark Polonia (Cocaine Shark, Amityville in Space, Sharkula) about a drug-addled young movie crew in the remote Pennsylvania woods shooting a horror picture. They are all shocked when an actual werewolf appears on set. The beast presumably steals some nose candy and goes on a rampage. Apparently, this filmmaker, who is known for working with Wild Eye Productions, was approached by another production company and given more money on this effort. But as of this writing, no one has seen it and there are no reviews available. It is debuting on disc and on streaming sites. It features Brice Kennedy, Yolie Canales, James Carolus and Marie DeLorenzo.
FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA – The fifth film in the Mad Max franchise is actually a prequel detailing the past of Furiosa, a character from the previous entry. A young version of this character is introduced into the wasteland. After being kidnapped by marauders, she is forced to do anything she can to survive. Her difficult experiences ultimately turn her into a deadly warrior. This picture was well-received by the press. A small number commented that the movie didn’t have enough meat on its bones and was too long and meandering in comparison to its predecessors. Still, the vast majority thought that, while not quite as amazing as the previous installment, this was an excellent feature that expanded the Mad Max universe, delivering some of the best and most thrilling action set pieces of the year. Multiple versions of the title will be available, including a 4K Ultra HD only release, a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Steelbook, as well as a regular Blu-ray. It stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke and Alyla Browne. Read a full review of the movie here.
THE HANGMAN – Hoping to bond, a father takes his son camping in the Appalachian Mountains. The dad wakes up the next morning to discover his car won’t start and that his son has completely disappeared. Panicked, he searches the area and encounters a racist backwoods cult who have also summoned an evil demon to do their bidding. The protagonist must face off against the monster and locals to save his boy. This independent chiller hasn’t been seen by many and, thus far, genre reviewers have given it mixed reviews. Most state that the concept is interesting and that the cast is strong, but that the finished product is tonally all over the place. Many specified that while the central father-son drama was effective, the horror elements didn’t make as strong of a strong impression. LeJon Woods, Mar Cellus and Ameerah Briggs.
IF – A child going through a personal trauma suddenly gains the ability to see everyone’s imaginary friends. She discovers that one other seemingly human figure can see them as well. The lead introduces herself to the man and creatures, discovering the beasts have all been left behind because their young friends have all grown up. Determined to help them, the girl sets out to help find these unique lifeforms new kids to pal around with. This picture split critics. Almost half called the movie a sweet and sincere tearjerker bolstered by good performances and fun visual effects. The same number and one or two more didn’t think that the humor worked or that the drama was compelling enough to truly engage them in the story. A few were also taken about by some of the film’s unexpectedly heavy themes. This title will be available in either a 4K Ultra HD or Blu-ray edition. The cast includes Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, Fiona Shaw and the voices of Jon Krasinski, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Steve Carell and Louis Gossett Jr..
IT’S A GOOD DAY TO DIE – Hoping to leave the mob for good, an assassin tries to remove himself from a mafia organization after his latest assignment. He ends up getting a ride from a stranger who works as a go-go dancer, and the two instantly make a connection. They decide to go on the run together and find themselves ensnared in a series of unexpected twists and turns while attempting to start a new life. This is an English-language thriller from France that appears to be debuting on disc, as well as a video-on-demand title in this part of the world. Unfortunately, no one has seen it as of yet and so no write-ups are available. Those interested will simply have to take a chance on the film and hope for the best. Julie Dray, Daniel Lundh,Vassilis Koukalani, Jeanne Bournaud and Ana Adams headline the feature.
JUNE ZERO – This international co-production between Israel and the US was completed in 2022, but is only now arriving at theaters and on disc. Based on a true story and broken into three tales, the film examines Adolf Eichmann’s trial after World War II. Eichmann is notorious for organizing the Holocaust and ordering the construction of crematoriums. Viewers see various characters try to figure out how to enact justice on the man after his conviction. Reaction to the foreign-language picture was quite strong. A few didn’t appreciate the darkly comic tone and didn’t think the film’s varied stories gelled together. Still, most called the film unique and stated that it asked many insightful questions. They admitted that some segments were better than others, but thought that the focus on individuals discussing various forms of retribution were intriguing. It features Tzahi Grad, Joy Rieger and Tom Hagi.
THE MOUSE TRAP – You’ll recall that a year or so ago, the character of “Winnie the Pooh” went into the public domain. Almost immediately afterward, a low-budget horror film appeared that featured the character as a violent, monstrous killer. Well, that’s now also happened with Disney’s Mickey Mouse, at least, in its original Steamboat Willie iteration. A young woman celebrating her 21st birthday goes to an amusement park with friends, where they are hunted by a killer dressed like this early version of the famous children’s character. So far, genre critics have generally hated this independent horror picture. They suggest that the experience is similar to watching the Pooh film. They call it a quick cash-in on a famous figure with a poor story, shoddy production value and zero suspense. It stars Simon Phillips, Sophie McIntosh and Madeline Kelman.
ON OUR WAY – Here is another title that was made a few years ago. It debuted on the internet and was made available to stream a year ago, but is only now arriving on disc. This independent drama involves a suicidal screenwriter grieving over the tragic loss of his girlfriend. Just before he is about to kill himself, a mysterious muse appears before him. She discusses his latest script and shows him that he actually has a lot to live for. There aren’t many reviews for the film, but those that have appeared online have been all over the place. A few have written that the picture is moving and does a nice job of examining grief. But just as many called the storytelling confusing and the final product cliched and uninvolving. The cast includes Michael Richardson, Sophie Lane Curtis, Jordana Brewster, Keith Powers, Franco Nero and Vanessa Redgrave.
THE PEOPLE’S JOKER – This independent effort begins with a legal disclaimer stating that it is using “fair use” guidelines to present a satire of DC comic characters. It is a coming-of-age film about a comedian grappling with gender identity who begins to see themselves relating more to a Harlequin-like figure than the Joker. As the person undergoes a big change, they must square off against a fascistic caped crusader. The picture was produced in 2022 but took some time to find a distributor. In fact, it was pulled from the Toronto Film Festival after its debut when Warner Bros. threatened to sue. The issue appears to have now been resolved. Reviewers were positive about what they saw. Write-ups suggested that it is a very amusing, personal and completely original feature blending numerous elements with a well-delivered message. It features Vera Drew, Lynn Downey, Tim Heidecker and features the voice of Bob Odenkirk.
BLASTS FROM THE PAST!
It’s also a busy week if you appreciate older titles. Arrow Video is releasing the “Limited Edition” box set called When Titans Ruled the Earth. Next week, it’s appearing on 4K Ultra HD, but right now you can purchase it as a standalone Blu-ray set. This release contains the remake Clash of the Titans (2010) and its sequel Wrath of the Titans (2012) both starring Sam Worthington as the Greek hero Perseus. In these titles the character squares off against various beasts and Hades himself.
Besides the improved picture quality, the movies arrive with new interviews with the producer, as well as tons of featurettes (from earlier editions) on the productions, deleted scenes, publicity materials and more. A FULL BOX SET REVIEW WILL APPEAR ON THIS SITE SHORTLY.
If you’re an enthusiast of 1980s European horror movies, you may be familiar with the following crazy gorefests that were produced by Dario Argento. Demons (1985) is being put out on 4K Ultra HD by Synapse Films, and it’s a wild one. A group of patrons are invited to a preview screening of a horror movie, only to find the monsters from the show crawling out of the screen and turning them into beasts. This admittedly stylish and entertaining bloodbath is full of over-the-top moments and graphic make-up effects.
The new remaster has been taken from the original camera negative and includes the full-length original cut in English and Italian, along with the shorter US version. There is a new film critic audio commentary, as well as an archived track with director Lamberto Bava, SPFX artist Sergio Stivaletti, the composer and a cast member. Additionally, there is a new featurette on all of the films and TV projects produced by Dario Argento. If that wasn’t enough, all bonuses from the previous Synapse edition have also been included. A Blu-ray only version is also available. Read a full disc review right here!
You can’t have one of these pictures without the other, so Demons 2 (1986) is also arriving on 4K Ultra HD (or Blu-ray). This one is set in an apartment complex and features the titular monsters coming out of televisions and creating chaos in the building. It isn’t quite as intense as the original, but comes pretty darn close and features more inventive demonic mayhem. Like the first title, the picture has been remastered in 4K from the original camera negative. You’ll get a new film historian commentary, a recently recorded visual essay on the use of space and technology in the movies, and all previously released bonuses. Click on this link to read more details about this edition.
Cauldron Films is presenting a couple of cult titles on Blu-ray. Rat Man (1988) is an Italian production about, as you may have already guessed, a monstrous being that is part human, part rodent attacking travelers at a Caribbean resort. This “Special Edition” includes a 4K Picture restoration, a film historian commentary, crew interviews, a trailer and reversible cover artwork.
Top Line (1988) aka Alien Terminator is another Italian genre flick starring Franco Nero as an adventurer in Columbia who discovers a UFO. George Kennedy also appears in the movie. The feature has been given a 2K restoration for this release and arrives with a Nero interview, a film historian commentary (that includes case and crew interviews), a featurette with alien theories, and more!
On a completely different note, you can purchase Brief Encounters/The Long Farewell: Two Films by Kira Muratova on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The comedy/drama titles were made by Ukrainian filmmaker Muratova in 1967 and 1971. They both were either banned or shelved by Soviet censors and didn’t see the light of cinema projectors until the late 1980s. Both features arrive on disc with 4K digital restorations, film expert interviews on their importance, an archival interview with Muratova and a movie critic essay.
You can also pick up the Academy Award winning period epic, The Last Emperor (1987) on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. It’s a biopic of the fascinating life of Emperor Pu Yi, who became the monarch and leader of China at age two. Reportedly, it comes with a wonderful and sharper picture on the theatrical cut, and also includes the longer TV version. Bonuses include a Bernardo Bertolucci director commentary (with other crew members) recorded in the mid-2000s, an archival documentary on Bertolucci, footage from a scouting trip to China, two documentaries on the production, as well as an episode of the TV program The Southbank Show that is devoted to the movie. There is also a 2007 discussion with composer David Byrne on the score, a featurette on Chinese culture, a TV appearance and interview with Bertolucci, and a trailer.
Mirror Mirror (1990) is a genre film that is arriving exclusively on 4K Ultra HD from Dark Force Entertainment. It follows a teenager who communicates with an evil force in her mirror that helps her take revenge on tormentors at school. The supporting cast includes Karen Black, Yvonne De Carlo, Williamm Sanderson and Stephen Tobolowsky. The new 4K scan is from the original camera negative and the release includes a film historian commentary.
And if you’re into Full Moon Pictures, you can now pick up a Blu-ray of The Gingerdead Man (2005). Apparently, it has been remastered for this release and arrives with plenty of extras.
Kino is putting out some notable titles as well. 99 River Street (1953) is a film noir about an ex-boxer suspected of murdering his wife (who was having an affair). This “Special Edition” Blu-ray contains a 2K film transfer, a movie expert commentary and a trailer.
Annie Laurie (1927) is a Lilian Gish film set in the Scottish Highlands that follows a kidnapping during a feud between two families. It also comes with a film historian commentary track.
Bob le Flambeur (1956) is a French casino heist film that is arriving in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray combo pack. The 4K restoration was taken from the original camera negative and bonuses include a film critic commentary, a trailer, and a documentary about the villain of the feature.
Le Doulos (1963) is a French gangster film about backstabbing crooks that is also getting the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray treatment. Besides the picture improvement, it comes with a movie historian commentary, an interview with the first assistant director, a documentary on the beginnings of the detective story and a trailer.
There is also a Blu-ray “Special Edition” of Navajo Joe (1966), an Italian/Spanish western with Burt Reynolds as a man who swears revenge on those who tried to kill him. The disc features a commentary from western expert and filmmaker Alex Cox (Repo Man), a scene-specific track with a biographer of Ennio Morricone (who wrote the score) and a trailer.
Based on the Charles Dickens novel, the Ealing Studios production of Nicholas Nickleby (1947) is arriving on Blu-ray. This disc features an interview with the curators of the BFI Dickens Season and a 1903 short adaptation of the story. A trailer is also included.
Shout! Factory is putting out a pair of releases. This effort won’t play as well today as it did in the 1980s, but the Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin Cannon Films action picture The Delta Force (1986) is coming out in a 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set. The performers play leaders of a secret team of US commandos who use any means necessary to wipe out a group of terrorists after they hijack a plane. It includes a 4K image restoration from the original camera negative and a trailer.
Observe and Report (2009) is a dark comedy with Seth Rogen about an unhinged individual who is hired as a mall security guard. The 2K remaster of the image has been approved by writer/director Jody Hill. There is a picture-in-picture commentary with Rogen, Hill and co-star Anna Faris. The disc also comes with featurettes on the production, outtakes, additional scenes and a gag reel.
If you enjoy classic comedy, Sony is releasing out The Three Stooges Collection on Blu-ray. This is a 20-disc box set with over 120 shorts and 8 full-length features starring the comedy troupe. It also contains a scrapbook and a button-activated sound chip with classic Stooges noises.
The Bat Whispers (1930) is a crime/chiller that is being released as a “Restored Collector’s Edition” Blu-ray from VCI Entertainment.
The distributor is also putting out the Dick Tracy RKO Classics Collection Blu-ray set, containing Dick Tracy (1945), Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946), Dick Tracy’s Dilemma (1947) and Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947), all adaptations of the famous comic character. The latter title features Boris Karloff as Gruesome.
You can also pick up a Blu-ray of the Basil Rathbone comedy, Hillbillys in a Haunted House (1967). The plot involves two country and western singers who end up in a ghastly mansion. The disc comes with a film historian commentary track, photo gallery and trailer.
Warner Bros. is presenting a trio of big titles as 4K Ultra HD exclusives (no Blu-rays are included). The first is the gangster biopic Black Mass (2015) starring Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson and Joel Edgerton lead an all-star cast about the exploits of criminal Whitey Bulger.
Speaking of stars, the comedy Game Night (2018) is also getting the 4K Ultra HD upgrade. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams play a couple who play weekly board games with friends. When the husband’s brother shows up unexpectedly and is kidnapped, the entire group end up on a wild and dangerous adventure.
The Michael B. Jordan/Jamie Foxx drama Just Mercy (2019) is the third feature getting a 4K Ultra HD release. This biopic tells the story of civil rights defense attorney Bryan Stevenson and his work in proving the innocence of a death row prisoner.
The Warner Archives made-to-order Blu-ray collection is also adding several options for purchasers. They including the Elvis Presley musical Harum Scarum (1965), the Clark Gable rom-com and dark comedy Idiot’s Delight (1939), as well as the Sissy Spacek biopic Marie (1985) aka Marie: A True Story and the Spencer Tracy western, Northwest Passage (1940).
Families may be excited to learn they can pick up a double-feature Blu-ray of the animated direct-to-video films Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost (1999) and Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders (2000). The Stars Fell on Henrietta (1995) is a period oil drama with Robert Duvall that is also being released, and you can also check out the Ireland-set War of the Buttons (1994) on Blu-ray too.
YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS!
Here is a list of releases that may be of interest to youngsters.
Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost (1999) and Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders (2000) (Warner Archive) Blu-ray
The Three Stooges Collection (Sony) Blu-ray box set
War of the Buttons (for older kids) (Warner Archive) Blu-ray
ON THE TUBE!
Below you’ll find all of the week’s TV-themed discs.
Beyond Paradise: Season 2 (BBC) DVD
Chucky: Season 3 (Universal) Blu-ray
Hallmark Movies & Mysteries 2-Movie Collection: Shifting Gears & A Taste of Love (Hallmark) DVD
Hope in the Water (PBS) DVD
Monster High 2 (TV-movie) (Paramount) DVD
NCIS: Season 21 (Paramount) DVD
Sister Boniface Mysteries: Season 3 (BBC) DVD